chapter

13

BLOOD
Blood is actually a connective tissue. Unique because of its fluid matrix, blood serves as the bodys transport
medium: It delivers oxygen and removes waste products from the bodys cells; it transports nutrients, hormones,
and enzymes; it helps protect the body against infection; and it helps stabilize body temperature. Whats more,
analyzing blood components gives clues about the bodys state of health. Use the exercises in this chapter to
improve your understanding of this vital fluid.

Illuminate the Truth:

Red Blood Cells

Highlight the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence about red blood cells.
1. Immature red blood cellsas well as white blood cells and platelet-producing cellsarise from (pluripotent

stem cells)(lymphatic tissue).

2. Red blood cells (have a fixed shape)(are flexible).
3. Red blood cells (have a large nucleus)(have no nucleus), which means they (cannot replicate)(replicate easily).
4. How much oxygen the blood can carry depends on the quantity of (plasma)(red blood cells).
5. Red blood cells affected by sickle cell disease are (overly flexible)(overly stiff), causing them to elongate when

they enter narrow vessels.

6. Each red blood cell contains (millions of hemoglobin molecules)(a single molecule of hemoglobin).
7. Red blood cells have a life span of about (365 days)(120 days).

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Puzzle It Out:

Blood Basics

Fill in the following crossword puzzle to test your knowledge of some key terms related to the blood.

ACROSS
1. Blood contains more of this formed element than
3.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

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any other
Main component of plasma
Production of blood
White blood cell
Plasma without the clotting proteins
Necessary in the diet for hemoglobin synthesis
Property of blood determined by the
combination of plasma and blood cells

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DOWN
2. An increased number of these cells reflects an

increase in the production of RBCs

4. The main protein in plasma
5. Most blood cells are created in

bone marrow
6. Red pigment that gives blood its color
7. Concentration of RBCs in a sample of blood
8. Excessive destruction of red blood cells

Drawing Conclusions:

Hemoglobin

Over one-third of the interior of a red blood cell is filled with hemoglobin. Fill in the blanks in the following
sentences to answer key questions about hemoglobin. Then color the figure as described.

1. Globin is made up of

. (Color the globin pink.)

2. Heme contains

. (Color the heme green.)

3. One hemoglobin molecule can bind with

molecules of oxygen. (Draw blue circles

around the oxygen-binding sites.)

4. When hemoglobin is saturated with oxygen, it is called

Sequence of Events:

The Formation of Red Blood Cells

The body must constantly produce new red blood cells to maintain homeostasis. Demonstrate your understanding of
the life cycle of red blood cells by placing the following events in the proper sequence. For example, place a number
1 in the blank line before the first event in the sequence, a number 2 by the second event, and so on.
A. An immature form of an erythrocyte, called a reticulocyte, is released into the circulation.
B. EPO stimulates stem cells in red bone marrow to begin creating new erythrocytes.
C. After one to two days, the reticulocyte becomes a mature erythrocyte.
D. The kidneys detect the declining levels of oxygen and respond by secreting a hormone called

erythropoietin (EPO).
E. As the number of RBCs increases, oxygen levels rise. Less EPO is produced, and RBC production

declines.
F. As damaged RBCs are removed from circulation, oxygen levels fall.

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Describe the Process:

The Breakdown of Red Blood Cells

Just as new red blood cells are continually formed, old blood cells are recycled. Describe this process, using the
illustrations provided as clues. The first step in the process has been provided to get you started.

Macrophages in the
liver and spleen ingest and
destroy old RBCs.

1
Heme

Globin

Fe+

Bilirubin

Iron

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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Chapter 13 Blood

Fill in the Gaps:

Red Blood Cell Disorders

Fill in each of the blanks to correctly complete the following sentences about common blood disorders. Choose from
the list of words in the Word Bank. (Hint: Not all the words will be used.)
ANEMIA

JAUNDICE

POLYCYTHEMIA

SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA

PERNICIOUS ANEMIA

PROTEINURIA

IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

1. The disease caused by an excess of RBCs is called

2. A deficiency of RBCs is called

3. A disorder that causes the excessive destruction of RBCs is

4. A dietary deficiency of iron will cause

5. A lack of vitamin B12 causes

6. A disorder common to African Americans that causes RBCs to elongate and clump together is called

Just the Highlights:

Granulocytes

Granulocytesone of the two classifications of white blood cellscan be one of three types. Color each type of granulocyte
a different color, such as the neutrophil yellow, the eosinophil blue, and the basophil green. Then link each cell to its
characteristics by highlighting the sentences that describe neutrophils yellow, eosinophils blue, and basophils green.

Neutrophil Eosinophil Basophil

1. The fewest of the WBCs, making up 0.5% to 1% of the WBC count

2. Numerous in the lining of the respiratory and digestive tract
3. Most abundant of the WBCs, making up 60% to 70% of all the WBCs in circulation
4. Kill parasites
5. Account for 2% to 5% of circulating WBCs
6. Are sometimes called band cells or stab cells
7. Secrete heparin
8. Quickly move out of blood vessels into tissue spaces to engulf and digest foreign materials
9. Possess little to no phagocytic ability
10. Form the main component of pus
11. Involved in allergic reactions
12. Secrete histamine
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Make a Connection:

Agranulocytes

Agranulocytesthe second classification of white blood cellscan be one of two types. Unscramble the words on
the left to discover the names of those two types. Then draw a line to link each cell to its particular characteristics.
1. CLOTHEMYSPY

a. Are the smallest WBCs

b. Comprise 3% to 8% of the WBC count

2. TYCOONSME

c. Responsible for long-term immunity

d. May mature in the bone marrow or may migrate

to the thymus to finish developing

e. Are largest WBCs
f. Are highly phagocytic; can engulf large

bacteria as well as virus-infected cells

g. Colonize the organs and tissues of the lymph

system when mature

h. May survive a few weeks to decades
i. Transform into macrophages in the tissues, where

they ingest bacteria, cellular debris, and cancerous

cells
j. May survive for several years
k. Are the second most numerous WBCs, making up

25% to 33% of the WBC count

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Chapter 13 Blood

Sequence of Events:

Formation of a Blood Clot

Blood clotting involves a complex series of events. Test your knowledge of these events by placing the following
reactions in the proper order. Place a number 1 in the blank by the first reaction, a 2 in the blank by the second
reaction, and so on.
A. Sticky fibrin threads form a web at the site of the injury.
B. Both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways result in the production of the enzyme prothrombin activator.
C. Thrombin transforms the soluble plasma protein fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin.
D. Red blood cells and platelets become ensnared in the fibrin web to create a clot of fibrin, blood cells, and

platelets.
E. Prothrombin is converted to the enzyme thrombin.
F. Prothrombin activator acts on the globulin prothrombin (factor II).

List for Learning:

Preventing Clot Formation

List three factors that discourage blood clot formation.

1.
2.
3.

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Puzzle It Out:

Blood Clotting

Complete the following crossword puzzle to strengthen your knowledge of key concepts in blood clotting.

ACROSS
3. Rare disorder resulting from a deficiency of one
5.
7.
8.
10.

of the clotting factors

Term for blood clotting
Another name for platelets
Stopping bleeding
A rough spot inside a blood vessel makes platelets
become this

DOWN
1. Process of breaking up a blood clot
2. Adequate blood level of this mineral is required

for clotting
4. A mass of platelets that forms a temporary seal on

a vessel wall is called a platelet

5. Fibers that are exposed when a vessel is injured
6. When a piece of a clot breaks off and circulates

through the bloodstream

7. Unwanted blood clot inside a vessel
9. The first thing a blood vessel does when cut.
11. Vitamin necessary for clotting

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Chapter 13 Blood

Fill in the Gaps:

Blood Types

Fill in the blanks to complete each of the following sentences. Choose from the words listed in the Word Bank.
(Hint: Not all the words will be used; also, words may be used more than once.)

AGGLUTINATION

HEMOLYSIS

POSITIVE

ANTIBODIES

NEGATIVE

RED BLOOD CELLS

ANTIGEN

PLASMA

AB

1. Each red blood cell carries a protein called an

2. Plasma carries

, of which there are two types (A and B).

against the

of the other blood types.

3. A transfusion reaction occurs when the antibodies of one blood type attack the cells of the other blood

type, causing the cells to clump together; the process of producing large clumps of cells is called
.
4. During a reaction, red blood cells may burst; this is called
5. Blood type

is sometimes called the universal donor, although the term is not completely

accurate. Reactions usually dont occur because only the

6. Blood type

are being transfused.

is sometimes called the universal recipient, although this is not

completely accurate either.

7. Many people also carry another antigen, called the Rh antigen; when this is the case, they are said to have

Rh-

blood.

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Drawing Conclusions:

Rh Factor

Improve your understanding of what happens when a woman with Rh-negative blood becomes pregnant with an
Rh-positive fetus by doing the following:

First, highlight the correct word or phrase in the sentences underneath each of the following illustrations.
Next, illustrate what is occurring by inserting symbols for Rh-negative blood, Rh-positive blood, and anti-Rh
antibodies. Use arrows to indicate the movement of the blood and antibodies. Finally, draw any reaction that
may occur.

A. The first pregnancy of an Rh-negative mother with an Rh-positive fetus is (normal)(complicated).

B. During delivery, or miscarriage, the fetus blood often (separates from)(mixes with) that of the mother, thus

introducing (Rh antibodies)(Rh antigens) into the mothers bloodstream.

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C. The mothers body responds by forming (anti-Rh antibodies)(Rh antigens).

D. If the mother becomes pregnant with another Rh-positive fetus, the (anti-Rh antibodies)(Rh antigens) in her

body can pass through the placenta and attack the fetal RBCs, causing (hemophilia)(agglutination).

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